What Does
Occupational Biomechanics Mean?
Occupational biomechanics is the study of forces acting on and generated in the body due to workstation design, workplace equipment, and job tasks. This field of study draws on biological science and engineering mechanics to evaluate how the body functions in various occupational settings.
Biomechanical assessments provide insight into the musculoskeletal loading that takes place during work. This is valuable information, since musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common workplace injuries that can result in chronic health issues.
Safeopedia Explains Occupational Biomechanics
Ergonomic injuries are a major cause of productivity loss and lost time at work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that injuries resulting from poor ergonomics account for 33% of all worker illness and injury cases.
Ergonomic issues also create broader safety concerns, since ergonomic injuries can limit a worker's ability to execute difficult tasks with the care and dexterity required to do so safely.
Occupational Biomechanics and Ergonomic Injuries
The onset for musculoskeletal injuries can either be sudden or a slow process, developing gradually as repetitive stress is placed on the body. Ergonomic injuries can affect muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. .
The purpose of occupational biomechanics is to assess, implement, and evaluate ergonomic methods that will help workers carry out their jobs without putting themselves at risk of developing an MSD.
Load Tolerance in Biomechanics
Load, in the context of biomechanics, are the physical stresses acting on the body. These stresses can come from kinetic, kinematic, oscillatory, and thermal sources. Loads may originate from voluntary or involuntary actions such as lifting, pulling, or pushing objects or may be from the external environment, such as the vibrations exerted by a power tool.
There are two load tolerance models:
- Acute trauma load-tolerance injury model – Covers injuries arising from a single identifiable event, such as contusions, fractures, and lacerations. Disorders due to acute trauma are registered when an external load exceeds the affected tissue's tolerance for mechanical strain.
- Cumulative trauma load-tolerance model – This model accounts for injuries that happen due to the accumulated effects of transient external loads. While these loads in isolation do not exceed the affected tissue's internal tolerance, they can exceed it when loading accumulates as a result of long duration of exposure or repeated exposure.